The Cardiac Outpatient at the Port Moresby General Hospital has since improved on its services to the public with over a thousand patients being attended to so far, since it received support from the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) in 2020.
This was made known today by the Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Health Matters, Elias Kapavore, when presenting the Preliminary Report on the Committee’s fact finding mission on the Provincial Health Authorities of East Sepik, Eastern Highlands and the National Capital District (NCD), in parliament today.
Mr. Kapavore said since the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on the 19th of August 2020, KPHL has provided K10million each year from the total of K50million to be spent over a period of five years as per the MoA.
From the funding over the period of years since the signing, the facility was fully upgraded and completed and equipped with new cardiac equipment.
However, although some improvements have been made, Kapavore also made mentioned that a human resources structure has not been approved yet for the Cardiology unit by the Department of Personnel Management, despite submissions made.
“The Committee noted funding support of K50million received from KPHL and K12million funding from PIP for the year 2022 for the Heart Centre.
Between 2021 and 2022, the Cath lab took on a total of 703 cases (547 males and 156 females). He further added that the Cardiac Outpatient received and diagnosed over 1, 600 patients mostly between ages 1 and 11 years, old and young adults between the ages of 21 and 31.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kapavore also made mentioned that the Committee is aware of the Port Moresby General Hospital’s efforts of working towards a standalone National Heart Centre in the future and supports it.